Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.

Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

Splash! Where’s Roy?

Ryde Pier and Esplanade circa 1960s

In today’s climate of strict rules for Health and Safety a headline like this would not be considered amusing. Even a trip by the children of a local Ryde school wishing to walk through the town requires detailed Risk Assessment, much form filling and preparation. However 50 years ago one wonders if Roy’s parents were even informed of their son’s mishap.

Roy Barry, a schoolboy from Peckham, fell off Ryde Pier yesterday while waiting with a school party to board the ferry to Portsmouth.

Mr T Brooks, of Dover Road, Copnor, Portsmouth, a seaman aboard the ferry said: “Luckily the boy could swim and he climbed out unhurt. I dried his clothes in the ferry’s galley.”
The boy is staying with a school party on the Island and was on his way to Portsmouth to visit H.M.S. Victory.

Source: Isle of Wight Times 20 May 1965

Image Source: Ryde Pier and Esplanade circa 1960s from Steve Holden’s Isle of Wight Postcards